The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-08-13
TILE RnREsnNIA FURNACE.

whether it meant supply to furnace of
past needs simply and whether it could APP
ply to the enlarged capacity of furnaces in
this day of increased improvements The
Supreme Court decided in favor of the
latter view. This wonderfully enhanced
the value of the Robesonia Furnace and
made of Nicholas Furguson wealthy man.
He had come to this place, forty years be-
fore, poor boy from Colerian township.
When the furnace was sold few years
ago to the heirs of Robert Coleman's estate
it rounded the sum of 100000.
The Mount Hope Furnace fell under the
same disposal of rights. But these extra
favors can make but little inroad upon that
piled-up mass of solid ore. The twelve
furnaces that blaze through the valley con-
sumo about l 800 tons of ore per day and
produce 900 tons Of pig-iron. Yet even
if thousand furn aces were to blaze thou
sand years those h ills, which have made
millionaires out of scores of families, would
stand in their inexhaustible greatness to
enrich thousands more.
A BOLD YOUNG MILLIONAIRE.
Passing over the lineage of the Colemans
and the varied history of their interests in
the estate, we come to the present genera
ton. The original eighty-six of the nine
ty-six shares comprising the estate were
handed down to William Coleman, who
died in 1862, and his heirs. His son and
daughter, Robert H. and Annie, inherited
his twenty-five ninety-sixth interest. .Robt.
Coleman is the chief parsonage in all the
Lebanon valley to-day. Mr. Freeman, of
the Coleman-Alven Freeman family, a man
of remarkable foresight, seeks to divide in
popularity with Robert. But this young
scion of powerful ancestry unites to HIM
self the shares of his sister and controls
the estate. He is genius, full of enter
prise and makes things hum in and around
the city of Lebanon. Before his majority
the estate was in the control of manager.
Artemus Wilhelm was poor bricklayer in
the employ of Roberts father. By the
surface hints of character he awakened in
terest in his millionaire master and he adj
vanced him and at death made him man
ager of all his effects. When he in turn
retired he had laid aside 100000 as his
reward of stewardship. But the young
Robert chafed under his administration and
objected TO running things on the old ira
ditional lines. Robert and his cousin, Mr..
Freeman, came to age at nearly the same
time and after many disagreements they
agreed to divide.
When Robert had reached his majority
Samuel Small, of York, his guardian,
handed him 100000 as the earnings of
his estate His income now is reputed to
be SIT 900 a week. His share of profits
for ore sold to outside parties alone is
S250,000. Right in the start of his career
he gave $4,000 to the York Collegiate
Institute, SO munifcently endowed by the
Smals. Later he gave $4,000 to Trinity
College of Hartford, Conn, where already
he had erected magnificent building for
the use of his fraternity.
THE RIVAL INTERESTS.
The spirit of enterprise has called out a
lavish expenditure of money at home. He
built the celebrated Colebrook furnaces,
which have been the admiration of all iron
men. Because of the feeling existing be-
tween the Freemans and the Colemaps
Robert was necessitated to build rival
road to the Old Cornwall, the best stock
paying road in the country. When his
father built this twenty-one-mile road he
only was able to command the money by
giving personal security to the extent of
his estate. Robert built his Cornwall and
Lebanon Railroad almost hands breadth
from the Freeman Road aud placed his
stock at The hitter FiE Ftlf eesssstteads
even down to the employees in every branch
of industry. The trains speed side by side
as if inspired with the spirit of their mas
tiers. The number Of trains and the time
are placed into envious calculation. The
merchants must be careful to equalize the
patronage of their freight at the risk Of
displeasure throughout the separate do
mains Robert from child took great
pride in mechanical inventions. He had
constructed for his use toy engines large
enough for him to mount, and upon tracks
in special house he often ran trains into
each other to see the bearings Of smash,
up. He even now has house for his ex-
periments. Quite frequently he is seen
with hand upon the throttle of regular
engine and flying at lightning speed over
the road. His engines are FURNISHED and
repainted with much pride, Hell project
ing new road to New Holland, He also
owns and is president of arailroad in Flor
ida centering in Jacksonville. He has
large villa there, where he spends his
winter from February to May.
ROBERT coLEMANs ROMANCE.
When Robert was at college he fell in
love with preachers daughter. His re-
ply to all opposition was, 4 marry for love
and not for money His bride was sickly,
and, despairing of her life, he accompanied
her to Europe. Whilst absent from his
country he was building what was contem-
plated to be one of the most luxuriant pal
aces known as a surprise to his wife on their
return. 1t is said of his unprincipled con.
tractors that they sought the centre of the
earth with their foundation and abused the
confidence of their employer in a shameful
way Mistrusting the outrageous bills he
demanded photographs ofthe work in pro-
gress. 1t is said that stones were piled up
in the cellar construction purposely to de-
ceive in every such picture. His wife died
at Paris. When he came home the de-
spondency and imposition caused him to
tear away the wall and pillow the spot into
the grave of forgetfulness. He then erect
ep in Lebanon an Episcopal church as a
to his wife at cost of 5000, 600.
He serves in his turn as deacon here, gath
ering the penny from the poor man.
He married second time-a lady from
Baltimore, to whom Roberts mother had
been godmother. She spent MUCH of her
life with the Colemans. When an heir
was born there was as much excitement in
and Cornwall as if a prince had
been ushered into the world.
The home-life of Mr.. Coleman is at once
domestic and pure. He resides in the pa
ternal mansion at Cornwall in princely style.
The music hall in the home is commodious
and specially devoted to the pleasures of
his humble employees. 1t also contains
museum, with Napoleon's furniture, and
relics from Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Christmas is celebrated with an illuminated
al ..o,.nt ah,Il.on